Issue no 02 Spring 2018 Living the Levels Welcome to our special edition of our newsletter, giving you a flavour of the events we will be bringing you over the seasons in association with our many friends and partners. We hope these will encourage you to get out and about and perhaps discover some new parts of this glorious landscape.

Long walks, tall tales and big skies! With 2018 being the ‘Year of the Sea’, look out for themed events celebrating our unique coastline from fun family activity days to days discovering our history, from illuminating talks to theatrical events – we hope there is something here for everyone to enjoy. So, if you’re a beginner or an 8 Buzzing Bumblebee I.D. 21 ‘The Year of the Sea: 14 Celebrating our Living 21 Get Messy with the Levels’ Natural Heritage expert, join us on our quest, with led Mesolithic: Prehistoric June Training Day for From Coalmine to sessions throughout the day for you Intermediates Coastline’ Saturday 14 July 2pm – 5pm to join in and go Wild! Chris will Stone Age fun activities 2-3, 9-10,16-17 10am – 3pm Meeting point: 1pm –2.30pm Meeting point: Meeting point: Magor Marsh, be popping in to see how we’re Glamorgan Archives 10am – ‘Levels through a Lens’ Magor Marsh, Whitewall, Gwent Archives, Steelworks Whitewall, Magor, NP26 3DD getting on. 2pm Meeting point: Glamorgan Photography exhibition Magor, NP26 3DD Cost: Free but Road, Ebbw Vale, NP23 6DN Cost: £2 for adults, Archives, Clos Parc Morgannwg BOOKING ESSENTIAL Cost: £2 £1 for children families £5. Leckwith, Cardiff CF11 8AW: 9am – 5pm Sat – Sun Meeting FREE www.glamarchives.gov.uk point: Newport Wetlands, West For those with more than a basic The Levels coastline is intrinsically The Gwent Levels were created by Nash Road, Nash Newport NP18 August knowledge of our pollinating pals linked with the industrious people and managed for thousands The Gwent Levels are home to 2BZ Cost: FREE but please note – here’s a chance to come along heartland of South of years and as a result, we have a 7 Get Messy with the some famous prehistoric footprints there is a car parking charge at unique natural heritage. So come and learn a bit more detail about particularly with the rise and Mesolithic: Prehistoric and artefacts on its coastline, so this venue. development of Newport Docks. and celebrate our amazing Gwent identifying our many pollinating Stone Age fun activities come on down to Glamorgan bumblebees. Discover these links with this Levels at this Grand Summer Fun Archives and make like our Students from ’s fascinating talk at the brilliant Day at Magor Marsh. Explore our Mesolithic Stone Age ancestors Foundation Degree Creative Newport Wetlands 10.30am – Bumble Bee Conservation Trust Gwent Archives, briefly covering the ‘Levels Zones’ where you can learn in the summer holidays! There is Industries Photography course have 12pm /2pm – 3.30pm Meeting and Buglife Cymru will be again our background and records relating to about Lave Net fishing, enjoy pond also the chance to discover been capturing the Levels’ point: Newport Wetlands guides on what promises to ‘bee’ a the development of heavy dipping, bug hunting, face painting, ‘Behind the Scenes’ at this landscape, people, wildlife and visitor centre Cost: RSPB fascinating day amongst the industries in the Valleys, the guided tours, free crafts, wildlife important records institution. views both good and bad, in a members £4.40 per child/£5.50 beautiful meadows of Magor important transport links (canals, and heritage stalls and lots lots series of beautiful and sometimes per non member. Marsh. trams and trains) and the more. A fantastic family day out! abstract photographic and video development of the docks and The Gwent Levels are home to September images from all angles. Come and 16 30 Days Wild Bioblitz! coastline. There will be an see for yourself in the beautiful 21 Bioblitz the Wetlands! some famous prehistoric footprints 29 Unlocking the History opportunity to view some of the and artefacts on its coastline, so setting of Newport Wetlands. 10am – 4pm Meeting point: and Archaeology of the records after the talk and you can 10am – 5pm Meeting point: come on down and make like our Magor Marsh, Whitewall, Gwent Levels also see the original 1830 Newport Wetlands, West Nash Mesolithic Stone Age ancestors Magor, NP26 3DD Saturday 29 September 10am – 7 Buzzing Bumblebee I.D. Commissioned maps of the Gwent Road, Nash Newport NP18 2BZ in the summer holidays! You can Cost: Children £2 Adults Free 4.00pm Meeting point: Newport Levels. Cost: FREE Please note there paint, cast current and extinct Training Day for Wetlands, West Nash Road, are parking charges at this animal tracks and even make your Beginners Learn all about the plants and Nash Newport NP18 2BZ Cost: venue. own muddy footprints! We will be animals that can be found at July FREE – Please note there are 10am – 3pm Meeting point: using paints, clay etc. so please fantastic Magor Marsh and with the parking charges at this venue Magor Marsh, Whitewall, 10, 17, 24, We really hope to ‘Packham-in’ as wear your old clothes. Magor, NP26 3DD Cost: Free help of experts, join us in recording Secret Newport: TV presenter and naturalist Chris but BOOKING ESSENTIAL the wide diversity of plants and Packham comes to Newport Stone Age Stags, Rowdy Romans animals who call this incredible The Levels and beyond and Moody Monks… Discover how July 10 Village Hall 7pm Wetlands National Nature Want to learn how to identify reserve home. the Gwent Levels were created, – 9pm, Reserve, as part of his UK Bio- different species of bumblebee, meet the people who helped shape July 17 Village Hall, blitz – ‘Nature reserves are not and get involved in helping to The afternoon fun will include bird this unique landscape, learn some 7pm – 9pm, enough!’ campaign to help discover monitor these vital pollinators? watching, pond dipping and bug ‘Levels Lingo’ and get to grips with July 24: Goldcliff Community what amazing plants and animals Come along to our Beginners hunting and much, much more. some of the artefacts pulled from Room 7pm – 9pm Cost: FREE live in this special place on the Bumblebee Identification Training Gwent Levels. During the day, there the Severn mud. You can meet day. will be lots of activities to help find many of the different history and Join historian Andrew Hemmings and record what species are here heritage groups from across the at a selection of venues across the In the morning we will deliver a in our ponds, meadows, woodlands Gwent Levels and discover the Levels. He delves into Newport’s talk on bumblebee ecology, and hedgerows. You can also learn valuable work and research they past, going beneath the surface of conservation and identification, how to spot any invasive ‘Alien do, which continues to keep local the city to reveal hidden facts that and in the afternoon we will walk Species’ which might prove a history alive. even local people don’t know and through the flowery meadows, problem on the Levels in the future. recounting stories of landed gentry identifying bumblebees There will also be a prize for the There will be activities for all the and war heroes from Newport’s throughout the Magor Marsh most unusual or unexpected find of family plus demonstrations, Levels and beyond. His illustrated reserve. In particular, we will be the day, so bring along your binoc- displays, guided walks, talks and talks will focus on the chapters in looking for rare species such as ulars and magnifying glasses for a you can find out how to get in- his book ‘Secret Newport’ dealing the shrill carder bee. fun day out. volved with many of the projects with Newport Levels and Newport Bumble Bee Conservation Trust being delivered by the Living Levels Heroes, promising an informative and Buglife Cymru will be our programme. This is also part of the and entertaining evening! guides. CADW Open Doors month. Orchard celebration To be decided... The Gwent Levels has been managed for thousands of years and as a result, we have a unique natural ‘Big Skies’ celebration heritage including a history of rich orchards of apples, After months of working with communities and pears and other fruiting trees. So come and celebrate schools, creating fabulous artwork and sharing our amazing Gwent Levels at this Apple-themed Fun stories, a cast of hundreds bring you the Big Skies Day at Magor Marsh. You can enjoy pond dipping, celebration of the stories, history, landscape and bug hunting, face painting, guided tours, free crafts, people of the Gwent Levels at the Newport wildlife, cider demonstrations and heritage stalls and Wetlands Environmental Education and Visitor lots lots more. A fantastic family day out! Centre.

Due to changeable Levels weather, please Moby Dick ensure that you bring appropriate footwear and Well we promised you a Big White Whale so join Tin waterproof clothing for all walks. Don’t forget Shed Theatre Co. as they bring this nautical classic to bring drink, suitable clothing, sun cream, to vivid life using the iconic Newport Transporter insect repellent for all outdoor activities. Bridge as a dramatic backdrop for this ocean-going tale of revenge and redemption above the Please note that other events may be and amidst the historic community of . organised after this newsletter is distributed, so keep checking our events calendar at www.livinglevels.co.uk . We will also be popping up at other events in and around the Levels - so Help spread the word! look out for us!

If you think of someone, or a group of people, who might be interested in finding out more about Living Levels and getting involved, please Check out our website for updates about do pass this newsletter on. the projects www.livinglevels.org.uk Follow us on social media If you do not wish to receive further updates about Living Levels, then please let us know to unsubscribe you from this list @ourlivinglevels We’d love to Our Living Levels hear from you!

If you have any questions about the programme or getting involved, drop us a line on: [email protected] or call us on: 01633 292982